Low density refurbed HSTs

[whole diary]

[Btline]

I travelled a short distance on one of these yesterday (one was on the Cotswold Line!), and was surprised to see that the 4 tables did not line up with the windows!!

Surely if they only have 4 tables to put in, they can actually think to align them - can it be that difficult.

Just another example where details about the windows are not fed into the computer, during the designing stage - the prime example being the Virgin Vomiters Voyagers.

Does the same apply to the high density HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? And while we are at it, how well aligned are the airline seats - the ones I have been in have been ok, but perhaps most are not.

PS: HST handling at Worcester Foregate Street is getting much better.

[devon_metro]

Table alignment on HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) is awful, hence why I always travel airline!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Perhaps those groups of four people who really want to sit round a table, so they can talk to each other, don't actually want to look out of the window?

Sorry, it was just a suggestion!   

[John R]

Precisely!

[Mookiemoo]

Precisely!

Or you have people who travel SC who want to

a. eat a bacon buttie whilst doing something else

b. use a laptop

[devon_metro]

The tables are only big enough for 2 laptop anyhow!!

[Andy W]

Surely if they only have 4 tables to put in, they can actually think to align them - can it be that difficult.

Does the same apply to the high density HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? And while we are at it, how well aligned are the airline seats - 

The distance between the seats has been considerably reduced. On the unrefurbished Mk3s the legroom in SC was the same as FC^‡(resolve) as all the seats aligned with the windows. Now they are crammed together the distance between the seats has been reduced in SC so this alignment can no longer happen.

Also note they have taken the nets away from the seat backs which was great for newspapers etc.

IHMO the only thing they get right with the refurb was the image - i.e. seats with Mickey Mouse ears says it all.

[12hoursunday]

I travelled a short distance on one of these yesterday (one was on the Cotswold Line!), and was surprised to see that the 4 tables did not line up with the windows!!

Now as a member of staff I have absolulty no ideal which sets are and are not Low/High density. Prey tell me how you know, and why one would be on the Cotswold line on a Friday anyhow. Nothing to Swansea diverted was there?

[devon_metro]

High Density have 2 tables per coach, Low Density have 4. Pathetic really!

[vacman]

Surely if they only have 4 tables to put in, they can actually think to align them - can it be that difficult.

Does the same apply to the high density HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? And while we are at it, how well aligned are the airline seats - 

 On the unrefurbished Mk3s the legroom in SC was the same as FC^‡(resolve) as all the seats aligned with the windows.

Oh no they weren't, the bays in SC were shorter than a whole window, hence why the tables didn't line up to windows in the unrefurbished sets either.

[Andy W]

Surely if they only have 4 tables to put in, they can actually think to align them - can it be that difficult.

Does the same apply to the high density HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train)? And while we are at it, how well aligned are the airline seats - 

 On the unrefurbished Mk3s the legroom in SC was the same as FC^‡(resolve) as all the seats aligned with the windows.

Oh no they weren't, the bays in SC were shorter than a whole window, hence why the tables didn't line up to windows in the unrefurbished sets either.

Yes they were, see this view of an unrefurb layout on Grand Central

http://www.grandcentralrail.co.uk/interior3.html
http://www.grandcentralrail.co.uk/interior5.html

Look at Wrexham and Shropshire as well, they too have the old layout.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) look the same.

http://anoraksia.ukgeeks.co.uk/p6932211.html

[vacman]

The grand central coaches are ex loco hauled stock and not former HST^▸ (High Speed Train) trailers, and if you look in your pic of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) one then the seats aren't lining up to the tables.

[devon_metro]

Grand Central sets are the same as built, with 64 seats per coach, FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) recent refurb did not span a whole window like GC^» (Great Central Railway - link to heritage line), GC specifically modded them to do so.

[Andy W]

The grand central coaches are ex loco hauled stock and not former HST^▸ (High Speed Train) trailers, and if you look in your pic of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) one then the seats aren't lining up to the tables.

Not my picture just one I found.
Can't see how the seats can't line up to the tables but as you work for FGW you've seen more than me.
I know that the electrics are different for the HST, I'm surprised the whole coach is different.
So loco hauled Mk3s are superior I guess.

[stebbo]

And what's wrong with wanting to eat a bacon buttie and drink coffee whilst reading the paper? Blunts the pain of having to get up at 5.00am to catch an early train.

Even better in the old days when you could look out of the window on a nice spring morning and see the Malverns/Cotswolds